Panel light apparatus

ABSTRACT

The back plate has four lateral walls and a bottom plate. A back side of the bottom plate includes multiple sets of folding hooks. Each set corresponds a different installation platform. One of the multiple sets of folding hooks is folded to be used for hooking to a corresponding installation platform. The light source module has multiple LED modules disposed on the bottom plate. Each LED module has a LED device and a lens. The lens diffuses a light of the LED device to be evenly emitted from the lens and broadening an output angle of the light via the lens. The diffusion plate with a peripheral edge is fixed to the four lateral walls of the back plate. The driver cover is attached to an external side of one of the four walls of the back plate. The driver cover defines a container cavity for concealing the driver module.

FIELD

The present application is related to a panel light apparatus and moreparticularly related to a LED panel light apparatus.

BACKGROUND

The time when the darkness is being lighten up by the light, human havenoticed the need of lighting up this planet. Light has become one of thenecessities we live with through the day and the night. During thedarkness after sunset, there is no natural light, and human have beenfinding ways to light up the darkness with artificial light. From atorch, candles to the light we have nowadays, the use of light have beenchanged through decades and the development of lighting continues on.

Early human found the control of fire which is a turning point of thehuman history. Fire provides light to bright up the darkness that haveallowed human activities to continue into the darker and colder hour ofthe hour after sunset. Fire gives human beings the first form of lightand heat to cook food, make tools, have heat to live through cold winterand lighting to see in the dark.

Lighting is now not to be limited just for providing the light we need,but it is also for setting up the mood and atmosphere being created foran area. Proper lighting for an area needs a good combination ofdaylight conditions and artificial lights. There are many ways toimprove lighting in a better cost and energy saving. LED lighting, asolid-state lamp that uses light-emitting diodes as the source of light,is a solution when it comes to energy-efficient lighting. LED lightingprovides lower cost, energy saving and longer life span.

The major use of the light emitting diodes is for illumination. Thelight emitting diodes is recently used in light bulb, light strip orlight tube for a longer lifetime and a lower energy consumption of thelight. The light emitting diodes shows a new type of illumination whichbrings more convenience to our lives. Nowadays, light emitting diodelight may be often seen in the market with various forms and affordableprices.

After the invention of LEDs, the neon indicator and incandescent lampsare gradually replaced. However, the cost of initial commercial LEDs wasextremely high, making them rare to be applied for practical use. Also,LEDs only illuminated red light at early stage. The brightness of thelight only could be used as indicator for it was too dark to illuminatean area. Unlike modern LEDs which are bound in transparent plasticcases, LEDs in early stage were packed in metal cases.

In 1878, Thomas Edison tried to make a usable light bulb afterexperimenting different materials. In November 1879, Edison filed apatent for an electric lamp with a carbon filament and keep testing tofind the perfect filament for his light bulb. The highest melting pointof any chemical element, tungsten, was known by Edison to be anexcellent material for light bulb filaments, but the machinery needed toproduce super-fine tungsten wire was not available in the late 19thcentury. Tungsten is still the primary material used in incandescentbulb filaments today.

Early candles were made in China in about 200 BC from whale fat and ricepaper wick. They were made from other materials through time, liketallow, spermaceti, colza oil and beeswax until the discovery ofparaffin wax which made production of candles cheap and affordable toeveryone. Wick was also improved over time that made from paper, cotton,hemp and flax with different times and ways of burning. Although not amajor light source now, candles are still here as decorative items and alight source in emergency situations. They are used for celebrationssuch as birthdays, religious rituals, for making atmosphere and as adecor.

Illumination has been improved throughout the times. Even now, thelighting device we used today are still being improved. From theillumination of the sun to the time when human can control fire forproviding illumination which changed human history, we have beenimproving the lighting source for a better efficiency and sense. Fromthe invention of candle, gas lamp, electric carbon arc lamp, kerosenelamp, light bulb, fluorescent lamp to LED lamp, the improvement ofillumination shows the necessity of light in human lives.

Panel light devices are widely used in various environments. Thethickness of panel light devices is attractive. Therefore, it is a greatchallenge to design a flexible panel light device with great functions.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a panel light apparatus including a back plate, alight source module, a diffusion plate, a driver module and a drivercover.

The back plate has four lateral walls and a bottom plate. A back side ofthe bottom plate includes multiple sets of folding hooks. Each setcorresponds a different installation platform. One of the multiple setsof folding hooks is folded to be used for hooking to a correspondinginstallation platform.

The light source module has multiple LED modules disposed on the bottomplate. Each LED module has a LED device and a lens. The lens diffuses alight of the LED device to be evenly emitted from the lens andbroadening an output angle of the light via the lens.

The diffusion plate with a peripheral edge is fixed to the four lateralwalls of the back plate. The driver cover is attached to an externalside of one of the four walls of the back plate. The driver coverdefines a container cavity for concealing the driver module. The drivercover has a driver opening for exposing the driver to manually adjustingthe driver module.

In some embodiments, the driver opening is covered by a movable driverconcealing plate. The movable driver concealing plate is moved to exposethe driver module to be manually adjusted.

In some embodiments, the wire terminal having a tilt receiver side witha tilt angle with respect to the driver circuit board. The wire terminalincludes an insulation body, a receiver socket and an electrode. Thereceiver socket has a tilt angle between 10 degrees to 80 degrees withrespect to the driver circuit board. The receiver socket is used forconnecting to a wire plug for electrically transmitting an externalpower to the driver circuit board via the electrode and the driver wire.

In some embodiments, the driver cover includes a detachable top coverhaving two top side walls to engages two bottom side walls of the drivercover to define the container cavity. The example that includes a tophousing and a bottom housing that are detachably connected for creatingthe driver cover mentioned in this disclosure support such embodiment.

In some embodiments, the driver cover includes a support plate formounting a driver circuit board of the driver module. The support plateholds the driver circuit board to keep a distance to a bottom surface,e.g. an exterior surface of the back plate, thus reserve an air passingtunnel for air to flow through.

In some embodiments, a heat dissipation channel is below the supportplate and the back plate for air flowing carrying away heat of thedriver module.

In some embodiments, the driver cover has a heat dissipation opening forair to pass through for carrying away heat of the driver module. Thisfurther enhances the feature when air carrying heat may be moved outsidethe driver cover.

In some embodiments, the bottom plate has multiple curved reflectiveareas respectively facing toward the multiple LED modules for reflectingthe light of the multiple LED modules toward the diffusion plate.

Specifically, in some embodiments, the LED modules mainly rely ondiffusion refraction of the lens covered over its LED device. The innersurface of the back plate, particularly when being attached with areflective layer or a reflective coating, also helps on reflecting aportion of light to the diffusion plate.

In some other embodiments, the concave and convex shapes of thereflective layer surrounding the LED module may be designed particularlyfor the light paths of the LED modules to more efficiently reflecting tothe diffusion layer.

When the panel light apparatus has a larger size, it would be expensiveto attach a reflective layer on every position of the back plate. Tooptimize the balance between cost and light efficiency, areas thatreflect more portion, e.g. where more than 70% of light reflectionoccurs, are attached with reflection strips.

In some embodiments, the multiple LED modules are divided into multipleLED strips respectively disposed in concave grooves of the bottom plate.

In some embodiments, the bottom plate has another convex groove forplacing the driver module.

In some embodiments, the LED strip has a LED circuit board mounted witha portion of the LED modules, the width of the LED circuit board issmaller than a diameter of the lens.

In some embodiments, the lens directing a portion of a light of the LEDmodules to be reflected by the bottom plate to the diffusion plate.

In some embodiments, the lens has a reflection part for reflecting aportion of the light of the LED module to the bottom plate and then tothe diffusion plate.

In some embodiments, the lens has a positioning part for aligning andattaching to a LED circuit board mounted with the LED modules.

In some embodiments, the lens has an exterior surface and an internalsurface, a top part of the exterior surface has a central concaveportion and a convex ring portion surrounding the central concaveportion.

In some embodiments, the internal surface of the lens has a dorm shapesurrounding the LED device.

In some embodiments, there is an air gap between the lens and the LEDdevice for preventing heat accumulated between the LED device and thelens.

In some embodiments, the lens has an anti-blue-light layer fordecreasing high frequency light emitting from the diffusion plate.

In some embodiments, each LED device has multiple LED dies withdifferent optical parameters.

In some embodiments, a battery is placed aside an external side of onelateral wall for providing an emergent current to the LED modules. Theemergent current is smaller than a normal driving current provided tothe LED modules.

In some embodiments, the panel light apparatus may also include a framesurrounding the back cover. There is a manual switch disposed on theframe to configure a setting of the driver module.

In some embodiments, the manual switch is used for changing an opticalparameter for controlling the LED modules.

In some embodiments, the panel light apparatus may also include a framesurrounding the back cover. There is a foam between a connection of theframe and the diffusion plate.

In some embodiments, the panel light apparatus may also include a framewith a function slot for mounting a function module connecting to thedriver module.

In some embodiments, the panel light apparatus may also include anindicator for transmitting a light message on the diffusion plate.

In some embodiments, the panel light apparatus may also include a beamLED module having a condensing lens for emitting a light beam on thediffusion plate for showing a light message controlled by the drivermodule.

In some embodiments, the LED modules are divided into multiple LED sets,when one LED set is damaged, an adjacent LED set is activated to replacethe damaged LED set.

In some embodiments, the driver module has a first driver part and asecond driver part, when one of the first driver part and the seconddriver part is damaged, the other of the first driver part and thesecond driver part is activated.

In some embodiments, the multiple LED modules are divided and placed onmultiple LED strips disposed in parallel.

In some embodiments, a conductive path is placed away from peripheraledge of the bottom plate with a distance from the peripheral edge ofmore than 10% of a width of the bottom plate. The conductive path isused for electrically connecting the multiple LED strips to the drivermodule.

In some embodiments, the conductive path has a plugging structure forconnecting the multiple LED strips.

In some embodiments, the LED modules are divided into groups to becontrolled by the driver module separately to produce different lightareas as requested by a user.

In some embodiments, the LED module has multiple LED devices integratedon a package. The multiple LED devices on the package are positioned tohave different angles for emitting multiple lights from the package.

In some embodiments, the multiple lights of the multiple LED devices fordifferent angles have different light intensities.

In some embodiments, the light intensities are adjusted by the drivermodule to provide an overall even output on the diffusion layer.

In some embodiments, an external device captures an output light patternappeared on the diffusion plate and sends a message related to thecaptured output light pattern to the driver module to adjust theintensities of the multiple LED devices in the package.

In some embodiments, the driver cover is made of metal material.

In some embodiments, the driver cover and an exterior surface of onelateral wall of the back plate together form the container cavity forconcealing the driver module.

In some embodiments, the driver cover has multiple sections. A firstsection of the multiple sections is used for containing the drivermodule. A second section of the multiple sections is used for connectinga first wire. There is a separator between the first section and thesecond section.

In some embodiments, a third section of the multiple sections is usedfor connecting a second wire. A voltage passing the first wire is largerthan a voltage passing the second wire.

In some embodiments, the multiple sets of folding hooks are fit to asurface of the back plate.

In some embodiments, one of the multiple sets of folding hooks arelocated at four corners of the back plate.

In some embodiments, a connection edge between the four lateral wallsand the bottom plate has a curved reflective area for reflecting thelight of the LED modules toward the diffusion plate.

In some embodiments, the bottom plate has a metal layer and reflectivelayer. The reflective layer of the bottom plate help reflecting a lightof the multiple LED modules emitting on the reflective layer of thebottom plate.

In some embodiments, the bottom plate has multiple curved reflectiveareas respectively facing toward the multiple LED modules for reflectingthe light of the multiple LED modules toward the diffusion plate.

In some embodiments, the driver module has a first driver part and asecond driver part. When one of the first driver part and the seconddriver part is damaged, the other of the first driver part and thesecond driver part is activated.

In some embodiments, the LED modules are divided into groups to becontrolled by the driver module separately to produce different lightareas as requested by a user.

In some embodiments, the groups correspond to luminance areas ofdifferent dimensions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a panel light apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the example in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a driver kit example.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a driver cover.

FIG. 5 illustrates another view of the example in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a driver module with wire terminals.

FIG. 7 illustrates a zoom-up view of a wire terminal.

FIG. 8 illustrates a driver cover structure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of a wire terminal component.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a wire terminal component.

FIG. 11 shows a structure diagram of a panel light apparatus.

FIG. 12 shows a back view of an example with multiple sets of foldinghooks.

FIG. 13 shows a corner structure of a back plate.

FIG. 14 shows a package with multiple LED devices.

FIG. 15 shows a LED module having multiple LED dies.

FIG. 16 shows an example with a frame and multiple function slots.

FIG. 17 shows a foam used in a frame of a panel light embodiment.

FIG. 18A shows a reflective strip attached to a back plate.

FIG. 18B shows another view of the example in FIG. 18A.

FIG. 19 shows a lens example.

FIG. 20A shows a lens example in a first view.

FIG. 20B shows a lens example in a second view.

FIG. 20C shows a lens example in a third view.

FIG. 21 shows a concave groove for disposing a LED strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 11, a panel light apparatus including a back plate 8811, a lightsource module 8811, a diffusion plate 8813, a driver module 8815 and adriver cover 8814. The back plate 8811 has four lateral walls 8815 and abottom plate 8816.

In FIG. 12, A back side of the bottom plate includes multiple sets offolding hooks 8817 and 8818. In FIG. 12, the first set of hooks includetriangle folding hooks 8817 on four corners. The second set of hooksinclude four L-shape hooks 8818 that may be folded to extend fromsurface of the back plate.

Each set corresponds a different installation platform. One of themultiple sets of folding hooks is folded to be used for hooking to acorresponding installation platform.

In FIG. 11, a light source module 8812 has multiple LED modules 8819disposed on the bottom plate 8816. Each LED module 8819 has a LED device8820 and a lens 8821. The lens 8821 diffuses a light of the LED device8820 to be evenly emitted from the lens 8821 and broadening an outputangle of the light via the lens 8821.

The diffusion plate 8813 with a peripheral edge is fixed to the fourlateral walls 8815 of the back plate 8811. The driver cover 8814 isattached to an external side of one of the four walls 8815 of the backplate 8811. The driver cover 8811 defines a container cavity 8816 forconcealing the driver module 8815.

The driver cover 8814 has a driver opening 8872 for exposing the drivermodule 8819 to manually adjusting the driver module 8819.

In some embodiments, the driver opening 8872 is covered by a movabledriver concealing plate 8871. The movable driver concealing plate 8871is moved to expose the driver module 8819 to be manually adjusted.

In some embodiments, the panel light apparatus has a wire terminal. Thewire terminal having a tilt receiver side with a tilt angle with respectto the driver circuit board. The wire terminal includes an insulationbody, a receiver socket and an electrode. The receiver socket has a tiltangle between 10 degrees to 80 degrees with respect to the drivercircuit board. The receiver socket is used for connecting to a wire plugfor electrically transmitting an external power to the driver circuitboard via the electrode and the driver wire. An example may be found inFIG. 7 and FIG. 10. There is an acute tilt angle 8802 for a tilt surfaceof the receiver socket with respect to the horizontal surface of thecircuit board of the driver module.

In some embodiments, the driver cover includes a support plate formounting a driver circuit board of the driver module. The support plateholds the driver circuit board to keep a distance to a bottom surface,e.g. an exterior surface of the back plate, thus reserve an air passingtunnel for air to flow through.

In some embodiments, a heat dissipation channel is below the supportplate and the back plate for air flowing carrying away heat of thedriver module.

In some embodiments, the driver cover has a heat dissipation opening forair to pass through for carrying away heat of the driver module. Thisfurther enhances the feature when air carrying heat may be moved outsidethe driver cover.

In FIG. 15, a LED device 8901 may has multiple LED dies with differentoptical parameters. For example, the LED device 8901 includes a firstwhite LED die 8902, a second white LED die 8903, a red LED die 8904, agreen LED die 8906, a blue LED die 8907 and a third white LED die 8908.A LED die is a semiconductor unit cut from a semiconductor waver forperforming a designed task, i.e. to emit light when receivingelectricity. The driver module controls these LED dies with differentoptical parameters to mix desired optical parameter of a final outputlight. The first white LED die 8903, the second white LED die 8904 andthe third LED die 8908 may have different color temperatures so as tomix more color temperatures. The red LED die 8904, the green LED die8906 and the blue LED die 8907 may be used for mixing a desired color.Other configuration may be applied. For example, the LED dies in thisexample of FIG. 15 may use the same LED dies but each area is coveredwith a different fluorescent layer or different fluorescent layers toemit lights of different optical parameters.

In some embodiments, the driver cover includes a detachable top coverhaving two top side walls to engages two bottom side walls of the drivercover to define the container cavity. The example that includes a tophousing and a bottom housing that are detachably connected for creatingthe driver cover mentioned in this disclosure support such embodiment.FIG. 8 shows one such example for forming a driver cover with tophousing and a bottom housing.

In FIG. 12, a battery 8905 is placed aside an external side of onelateral wall 8906 for providing an emergent current to the LED modules.The emergent current is smaller than a normal driving current providedto the LED modules.

In FIG. 16, the panel light apparatus may also include a frame 8907surrounding the back cover and the diffusion plate 8908. There is amanual switch 8909 disposed on the frame to configure a setting of thedriver module.

In some embodiments, the manual switch is used for changing an opticalparameter for controlling the LED modules.

In FIG. 17, the panel light apparatus may also include a frame 8912surrounding the back cover 8914. There is a foam 8914 between aconnection of the frame 8912 and the diffusion plate 8913.

In FIG. 16, the panel light apparatus may also include a frame 8907 withfunction slots 8910, 8911 for mounting a function module connecting tothe driver module. For example, the function slots 8910, 8911 may beused for attaching a function unit like an antenna, a speaker soundhole, a sensor or other device connected or function independently butonly receives power supply from the driver module.

In FIG. 16, the panel light apparatus may also include an indicator 8912for transmitting a light message on the diffusion plate. The indicator8912 may be also a LED module integrated with other LED modules or aseparate component for providing visual information controlled by thedriver module.

In FIG. 16, the panel light apparatus may also include a beam LED module8913 having a condensing lens for emitting a light beam on the diffusionplate for showing a light message controlled by the driver module. Asthe examples mentioned below with drawings, the LED modules may be a LEDdevice covered by a lens that diffuses a light of the light device. Insome embodiments, some LED modules may be used for a function other thanluminance but to provide visual information. In such case, some LEDmodules that may be controlled separately are covered with a condensinglens for generating a focuses light beam, which may be used as anindicator for transmitting a message, e.g. the status of the panel lightapparatus is abnormal, entering an emergency status with a battery,receiving a wireless signal.

In some embodiments, the driver cover 8814 is made of metal material.

In some embodiments, the driver cover 8814 and an exterior surface ofone lateral wall 8815 of the back plate together form the containercavity 8816 for concealing the driver module 8815.

In some embodiments, the driver cover 8814 has multiple sections 8824,8822, 8823. A first section 8824 of the multiple sections is used forcontaining the driver module 8815. A second section 8822 of the multiplesections is used for connecting a first wire 8825. There is a separator8827 between the first section 8824 and the second section 8822.

In some embodiments, a third section 8823 of the multiple sections isused for connecting a second wire 8826. A voltage passing the first wire8825 is larger than a voltage passing the second wire 8826. For example,the first wire 8825 is connected to a 110V or 220V alternating powersource. The second wire 8826 is connected to a dimmer switch on a wallwith lower voltage.

In FIG. 21, the bottom plate 8202 has multiple curved reflective areas8201 respectively facing toward the multiple LED modules 8202 forreflecting the light of the multiple LED modules 8202 toward thediffusion plate 8204.

Specifically, in some embodiments, the LED modules mainly rely ondiffusion refraction of the lens covered over its LED device. The innersurface of the back plate, particularly when being attached with areflective layer or a reflective coating, also helps on reflecting aportion of light to the diffusion plate.

In some other embodiments, the concave and convex shapes of thereflective layer surrounding the LED module may be designed particularlyfor the light paths of the LED modules to more efficiently reflecting tothe diffusion layer.

When the panel light apparatus has a larger size, it would be expensiveto attach a reflective layer on every position of the back plate. Tooptimize the balance between cost and light efficiency, areas thatreflect more portion, e.g. where more than 70% of light reflectionoccurs, are attached with reflection strips.

In FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B, the LED modules 8211 are divided into groupsand placed on multiple LED strips 8212. There is a lens 8214 covering aLED device 8215 for diffusing light of the LED device 8215 evenly towardthe diffusion plate.

In this example, a reflection strip 8213 are attached to the LED strip8212 as a balance of cost and overall light efficiency.

In some embodiments, the multiple LED modules are divided into multipleLED strips respectively disposed in concave grooves of the bottom plate.

In some embodiments, the bottom plate has another convex groove forplacing the driver module. For example, a driver component may be placedwithin a convex groove as illustrated in the reference numeral curvearea 8201. The concave shape provides a container space for storing acomponent while overall appearance is still elegant.

In some embodiments, the LED strip has a LED circuit board mounted witha portion of the LED modules, the width of the LED circuit board issmaller than a diameter of the lens.

In FIG. 11, the lens 8821 has a larger width than the LED circuit board8812.

In FIG. 19, the lens 8305 directs a portion of a light of the LEDmodules 8304 to be reflected by the bottom plate 8303 to the diffusionplate.

In FIG. 19, the lens has a reflection part 8301 for reflecting a portionof the light of the LED module 8304 to the bottom plate 8303 and then tothe diffusion plate.

In FIG. 19, the lens has an anti-blue-light layer 8411 for decreasinghigh frequency light emitting from the diffusion plate. Theanti-blue-light layer 8411 may be applied to exterior surface of thelens. In some embodiments, anti-blue-light material may be added tomaterial for building the lens. There are multiple materials forfiltering certain blue light or high frequency light to protect humaneyes. Since the lens is the key gateway for light to pass through, itwould be critical and helpful to add such function to the lens.

FIG. 20A, FIG. 20B and FIG. 20C shows different views of a lens example.

In FIG. 20A, the lens has a positioning part 8401 for aligning andattaching to a LED circuit board mounted with the LED modules.

In FIG. 20B, the lens has an exterior surface 8402 and an internalsurface 8403. A top part of the exterior surface 8402 has a centralconcave portion 8404 and a convex ring portion 8405 surrounding thecentral concave portion 8404.

In some embodiments, the internal surface 8403 of the lens has a dormshape surrounding the LED device. The diameters of the three borders ofthe exterior side of the lens are 9.5 mm, 12.5 mm and 13.5 mm. The innerdiameter 8409 of the lens is 3 mm. A range of 30% of the size are testedsatisfying for a panel light apparatus with 60 cm to 90 cm width. Aminimum distance between a top surface of the lens to the diffusionplate is more than 30 mm in tests for getting a nice visual effect.

In FIG. 19, there is an air gap 8410 between the lens and the LED devicefor preventing heat accumulated between the LED device and the lens.

In some embodiments, the multiple sets of folding hooks are fit to asurface of the back plate.

In FIG. 12, one set of folding hook 8817 of the multiple sets of foldinghooks are located at four corners of the back plate.

In FIG. 13, a connection edge 8833 between the four lateral walls 8832and the bottom plate 8831 has a curved reflective area for reflectingthe light of the LED modules toward the diffusion plate 8834.

In FIG. 13, the bottom plate has a metal layer 8836 and reflective layer8835. The reflective layer 8836 of the bottom plate help reflecting alight of the multiple LED modules 8837 emitting on the reflective layer8835 of the bottom plate.

In some embodiments, the bottom plate has multiple curved reflectiveareas 8833 respectively facing toward the multiple LED modules 8837 forreflecting the light of the multiple LED modules toward the diffusionplate 8835.

In FIG. 14, the LED module has multiple LED devices 8841, 8842, 8843,8844 integrated on a package 8845. The multiple LED devices 8841, 8842,8843, 8844 on the package 8845 are positioned to have different anglesfor emitting multiple lights from the package 8845. The lens mentionedmay still be used for diffusing lights from the LED devices 8841, 8842,8843, 8844. In some embodiments, if the LED devices are positionedproperly, the lens may even be reduced to further saving cost anddecrease light waste on passing lens while an evenly distributed lightpattern is still obtained.

In some embodiments, the multiple lights 8846, 8847 of the multiple LEDdevices 8844, 8843 for different angles have different lightintensities.

In some embodiments, the light intensities are adjusted by the drivermodule to provide an overall even output on the diffusion layer 8848.The lights from the LED modules are summed and appear a light pattern onthe diffusion layer 8848. By adjusting proper intensities of the LEDdevices 8844, 8843 for different angles, an even output on the diffusionlayer 8848 may be obtained. The effect would be better if lens are used.But, if the LED devices and angles on placing the LED devices are wellconfigured, the lens may be reduced.

In FIG. 14, an external device 8849 captures an output light patternappeared on the diffusion plate 8848 and sends a message 8850 related tothe captured output light pattern to the driver module 8851 to adjustthe intensities of the multiple LED devices 8841, 8842, 8843, 8844 inthe package 8845. There are multiple packages 8845 for the LED modulesand the overall light effect may be carefully configured by the externaldevice 8849. Such adjustment may be performed in a factory and theparameters of the driver module is stored for each type of panel lightapparatus. Such configuration may be adjusted by users, e.g. using aphone to capture a light pattern image appearing on the diffusion plate8848. The image is analyzed by an app of the phone and then the messageis transmitted to the driver module 8851 to configure the intensities ofLED devices on different tilt angles.

In FIG. 12, the driver module has a first driver part 8861 and a seconddriver part 8862. When one of the first driver part 8861 and the seconddriver part 8862 is damaged, the other of the first driver part 8861 andthe second driver part 8862 is activated. Compared with the LED modules,the driver module is more complicated and may be damaged more easily. Byproviding a backup driver component, the overall life span of the panellight apparatus is increased. The switch may be automatic or manually byuser, e.g. operating a manual switch.

With two driver parts, the two driver parts may be activatedautomatically to further increase life span of the driver module. Forexample, a timer is set for switching use of the two driver partsalternatively. Such design prevents any of the driver part staying inhigh working temperatures that may cause damages of the driver module.

In FIG. 11, the LED modules are divided into groups to be controlled bythe driver module separately to produce different light areas 8863, 8864as requested by a user. Specifically, different light areas 8863, 8864may be turned on with different luminance are sizes. People may needsoft or small light when they are preparing to get sleep. In such time,they may use a small light area with smaller light intensity instead ofdecreasing overall intensity of all LED modules. In some other cases,larger light area may be needed.

In some embodiments, the groups correspond to luminance areas ofdifferent dimensions.

In FIG. 11, the multiple LED modules are divided and placed on multipleLED strips disposed in parallel as the five light strips in FIG. 11. Aconductive path 8865 is placed away from peripheral edge of the bottomplate with a distance 8867 from the peripheral edge 8866 of more than10% of a width 8868 of the bottom plate. The conductive path 8865 isused for electrically connecting the multiple LED strips to the drivermodule.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. A panel light apparatus includes aback plate 100. The back plate 100 has a bottom plate 8804 and fourlateral walls 8805 extending from and surrounding the back plate 100.The panel light also has a light source module 200 disposed on thebottom plate. The four walls of the base plate are connected to adiffusion plate 300. On the back side of the back plate 100, there arehooks 500 and a driver kit 600.

The diffusion plate 300 is connected to the back plate 100 withfasteners 400. The hooks 500 are used for connecting to an installationplatform on a wall or on a ceiling.

The driver kit 600 includes a driver module for converting an externalpower to a driving current supplied to the light source module 200. Thelight source module 200 includes multiple LED modules. Each LED modulehas a LED device and a lens covering the LED device for diffusing alight of the LED module to the diffusion plate 300.

The driver kit 600 includes a driver cover 610 and a driver module 620stored in a container cavity defined by the driver 610. Specifically,the driver cover 610 is attached to an external side of one of the fourlateral walls of the back plate. The driver cover 610 may form acontainer cavity for storing the driver module 620. In some otherembodiments, the driver cover 610 and a portion of the lateral wall ofthe back cover together form the container cavity.

The driver cover 610 includes a cover housing 611 and a movable driverconcealing plate 612. The driver module 620 is disposed on the coverhousing 611. The cover housing 611 has a driver opening for exposing thedriver module 620. The driver concealing plate 612 is manuallydetachable from the driver cover 610. When the driver concealing plate612 is moved, the driver module 620 is exposed so that users may operateon the driver module 620, e.g. to operate a manual switch of the drivermodule 620. When the driver concealing plate 612 is placed to cover thedriver opening, the driver module 620 is concealed by the driver cover610 and the driver concealing plate 612 to protect the driver module 620and prevent people getting electric shock.

During installation, the driver module 620 is placed on the coverhousing 611 and then the driver housing 611 is buckled to the back plate100 of the panel light apparatus. The cover housing 611 and the backplate 100 together form a container cavity for storing the driver module620. The driver concealing plate 612 is installed to conceal thecontainer cavity.

The panel light apparatus is attached to a wall or a ceiling by usingthe hooks of the panel light apparatus 500 to a screw or other fixingdevices. In some embodiments, there are multiple sets of hooks. Each setof hook corresponds to a type of installation platform. For differentinstallation platform, a corresponding hook is selected and folded.Other hooks not selected may be kept flattened and unfolded.

In some embodiments, the driver cover may include module slots forplugging function modules required by the users. For example, a wirelessfunction module may be plugged to the driver cover to add communicationfunction of the panel light apparatus. Specifically, the wirelessfunction module is connected to the driver module to expand the power ofthe driver module. Other function module examples include speakers,sensors, fire alarm modules, smoke detection modules, and any functionmodules that expand functions of the panel light apparatus or justreceive power supply from the driver module. For example, a Wi-Fi hotspot may be installed for receiving the power supply of the drivermodule, while not necessary to co-work directly with any other componentof the panel light apparatus.

In some embodiments, the driver module is a box with a manual switch onits surface.

There may be one or multiple openings on the driver cover, in additionto the driver opening. For example, the cover housing 611 or the driverconcealing plate 612 may have wiring holes for passing a wire so as toconnect an external wire to the driver module 620 stored in the drivercover.

Please refer to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5. The cover housing 611 includes asupport plate 6111 and a top plate 6112 perpendicular to the supportplate 6111, and a lateral plate 6113 connecting to the top plate 6112.

The second lateral plate 6114 and the top plate 6112 form an opening.The top plate 6112, the first lateral plate 6113 and the second lateralplate 6114 are disposed at the same side of the support plate 6111 andconnected to the support plate 6111.

The top plate 61112 and the second lateral plate 6114 are disposed witha gap forming an opening. Such design reduces a hole stamping operationand increases production efficiency.

The driver 620 is installed on an inner surface of the support plate6111 to be placed inside a U-shape container cavity. Specifically, thedriver concealing plate 612, the top plate 6112, the first lateral plate6113 and the second lateral plate 6114 together form an U-shapecontainer cavity for storing the driver module 620.

Please refer to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5. The driver concealing plate 612 has aconnecting part 613 on the side close to the top plate 6112 forconnecting to the top plate 6112. There is a shielding part 614 on theend for shielding plate 612 and the second lateral plate 6114.

The first connecting part 613 implements a connection between the driverconcealing plate 612 and the top plate 6112 so that operators may use ascrew bolt to connect the first connecting part 613 and the top plate6112.

The first connecting part 613 shields the gap between the driverconcealing plate 612 and the top plate 6112 to prevent dust entering thecontainer cavity to increase the life span of the driver module 620.

In FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the support plate 6111, the top plate6112, the first lateral plate 6113 and the second lateral plate 6114 aremade as a one-piece structure.

In FIG. 4, the first connecting part 613 is connected to the top plate6112 with a screw bolt. The connecting part 613

Please refer FIG. 5. There is a support plate 6111 connecting to thedriver concealing plate 612. There is a first plugging part 615,corresponding to a second plugging part 616.

The first plugging part 615 may be a plugging hole or a plugging groove.The second plugging part 616 may be a corresponding plugging groove or aplugging plate.

Please refer to FIG. 3. The support plate 6111 has a third connectingpart detachable connected to the back plate 100. The first lateral plate6113 and the second lateral plate 6114 respectively have a fourthconnecting part for detachably connecting to the back plate 100.

The driver concealing plate 612 has a second connecting part fordetachably connecting to the back plate 100. A screw bolt is used forconnecting the support plate 6111, the top plate 6112, the first lateralplate 6113, the second lateral plate 6114 and the driver concealingplate 612 to the back plate 100 to fix different portions of the drivercover 610 to the back plate 100.

The third connecting part is integrated as a one-piece structure withthe support plate 6111. The first lateral plate 6113 and the secondlateral plate 6114 are made as a one-piece structure with the fourthconnecting part. The driver concealing plate 612 and the secondconnecting part are made as a one-piece structure.

Please refer to FIG. 6 to FIG. 10. The driver module 620 includes ahousing 21, a circuit board 622 stored in the housing and a wireterminal 623.

The circuit board 622 has two ends extending outside the containercavity formed by the housing 621. The wire terminal 623 is placedoutside the container cavity and plugged to fix to the circuit board622.

The wire terminal 623 includes an insulation body 6231. There is asecond plugging hole 6232, as a receiver socket, on the insulation body6231 for connecting to a wire plug. There is an electrode 6233electrically connected to a driver wire connected to the circuit board622. The receiver socket has a tilt angle between 10 degrees to 80degrees with respect to the driver circuit board 622. There is an acuteangle between an axial line of the second plugging hole 6232 and abottom side of the insulation body 6231.

There is a limiter 8801, which may be an additional hole connecting tothe second plugging hole to increase friction between the wire plug andthe second plugging hole 6232.

When an external wire is connected to the circuit board 622, the wireplug of the external wire is plugged into the second plugging hole 6232to electrically contact with the electrode 6233.

Unlike normal plugging hole 6232, which is set horizontally, there is atilt angle for disposing the second plugging hole 6232 to keep thedriver wire and the wire plug not in the same line, but with an anglebetween 10 degrees to 80 degrees. In FIG. 10, the angle 8802 shows thetilt surface of the receiver socket and the circuit board of the drivermodule. It would be the same when the angle is taken for considering theaxial line of the receiver socket and the circuit board, both with anacute tilt angle with respect to driver wire 8803 of the driver module.

Such design prevents an undesired disconnection or damage when the wireplug is removed from the second plugging hole 6232.

The housing 621 protects the circuit board 622, decreases dustcollecting on the circuit board 622 that may cause certain risk. Thewire terminal 623 is placed in the container cavity of the housing 621for the wire plug easily connecting or disconnecting from the wireterminal 623.

Please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. The housing 621 includes a bottomhousing 6211 below the circuit board 622 and a detachably connecting tophousing 6212 connected to the bottom housing 6211. The top housing 6212and the bottom housing 6211 together form the container cavity forstoring the driver module.

The detachable connection between the top housing 6212 and the bottomhousing 6211 is convenient for assembly and decreases manufacturingcost.

Specifically, the bottom housing 6211 has a longer length than thelength of the circuit board 622. The wire terminal 623 is locatedoutside the container cavity defined by the top housing 6212 and thebottom housing 6211. The second plugging hole 6232, as the receiversocket, is facing outwardly.

Specifically, there is a buckle 6213 on the top housing 6212. There is acontainer groove 6214 disposed on the bottom housing 6211 correspondingto the buckle 6213.

The bottom of the buckle 6213 is connected to the top housing 6212. Thetop side is an active end. When the top housing 6212 and the bottomhousing 6211 are buckled, the active end of the buckle 6213 is shrunktoward lateral wall direction of the top housing 6212 to enters thecontainer groove 6214 to complete the buckling connection.

There is a hand-held portion disposed on the external wall of the buckle6213. The hand-held portion is extended outside the top housing 6212.When the top housing 6212 needs to be detached from the bottom housing6211, the hand-held portion may be pulled outwardly for escaping thebuckle 6213 from the container groove 6214. Then, the top housing 6212is pulled upwardly to detach from the bottom housing 6211.

Please refer to FIG. 8. The driver module 620 also includes a supportplate 624. The support plate 624 is disposed in the container cavity.The circuit board 622 is disposed on the support plate 624. The supportplate 624 has a bottom surface in parallel with a surface of the bottomhousing 6211 forming a heat dissipation channel 625.

The support plate 624 provides a heat dissipation channel 625 so thatheat of the driver circuit of the driver module is carried away by airflowing in the heat dissipation channel 625.

Please refer to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8. Two ends of the bottom housing 6211have support pieces 626 for supporting the support plate 624.

There is a stop block 627 on an external wall of the support piece 626.The two stop blocks 627 respectively disposed on two ends of the bottomhousing 6211 are used for clipping the support plate 624.

In FIG. 8, the circuit board 622, the support plate 624 and the bottomplate of the bottom housing 6211 may be detachably connected with ascrew bolt.

The screw bolt increases a connection stability of the circuit board622, the support plate 624 and the bottom housing 6211.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the techniques and their practical applications. Othersskilled in the art are thereby enabled to best utilize the techniquesand various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Although the disclosure and examples have been fully described withreference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that variouschanges and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in theart. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as beingincluded within the scope of the disclosure and examples as defined bythe claims.

1. A panel light apparatus comprising: a back plate having four lateralwalls and a bottom plate; a light source module having multiple LEDmodules disposed on the bottom plate, each LED module having a LEDdevice and a lens, the lens diffusing a light of the LED device to beevenly emitted from the lens and broadening an output angle of the lightvia the lens; a diffusion plate with a peripheral edge fixed to the fourlateral walls of the back plate; and a driver module comprising a wireterminal, a driver circuit board, a driver wire, the wire terminalhaving a tilt receiver side with a tilt angle with respect to the drivercircuit board, the wire terminal comprising an insulation body, areceiver socket and an electrode, the receiver socket having a tiltangle between 10 degrees to 80 degrees with respect to the drivercircuit board, the receiver socket for connecting to a wire plug forelectrically transmitting an external power to the driver circuit boardvia the electrode and the driver wire; and a driver cover attached to anexternal side of one of the four walls of the back plate, the drivercover defining a container cavity for concealing the driver module. 2.The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver cover comprisesa detachable top cover having two top side walls to engages two bottomside walls of the driver cover to define the container cavity.
 3. Thepanel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver cover comprises asupport plate for mounting a driver circuit board of the driver module.4. The panel light apparatus of claim 3, wherein a heat dissipationchannel is below the support plate and the back plate for air flowingcarrying away heat of the driver module.
 5. The panel light apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the driver cover has a heat dissipation opening for airto pass through for carrying away heat of the driver module.
 6. Thepanel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein a connection edge between thefour lateral walls and the bottom plate has a curved reflective area forreflecting the light of the LED modules toward the diffusion plate. 7.The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom plate has ametal layer and reflective layer, the reflective layer of the bottomplate help reflecting a light of the multiple LED modules emitting onthe reflective layer of the bottom plate.
 8. The panel light apparatusof claim 1, wherein the bottom plate has multiple curved reflectiveareas respectively facing toward the multiple LED modules for reflectingthe light of the multiple LED modules toward the diffusion plate.
 9. Thepanel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multiple LED modules aredivided into multiple LED strips respectively disposed in concavegrooves of the bottom plate.
 10. The panel light apparatus of claim 9,wherein the bottom plate has another convex groove for placing thedriver module.
 11. The panel light apparatus of claim 9, wherein the LEDstrip has a LED circuit board mounted with a portion of the LED modules,the width of the LED circuit board is smaller than a diameter of thelens.
 12. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lensdirecting a portion of a light of the LED modules to be reflected by thebottom plate to the diffusion plate.
 13. The panel light apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the lens has a reflection part for reflecting aportion of the light of the LED module to the bottom plate and then tothe diffusion plate.
 14. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe lens has a positioning part for aligning and attaching to a LEDcircuit board mounted with the LED modules.
 15. The panel lightapparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens has an exterior surface and aninternal surface, a top part of the exterior surface has a centralconcave portion and a convex ring portion surrounding the centralconcave portion.
 16. The panel light apparatus of claim 15, wherein theinternal surface of the lens has a dorm shape surrounding the LEDdevice.
 17. The panel light apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is anair gap between the lens and the LED device for preventing heataccumulated between the LED device and the lens.
 18. The panel lightapparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens has an anti-blue-light layer fordecreasing high frequency light emitting from the diffusion plate. 19.The panel light apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicatorfor transmitting a light message on the diffusion plate.
 20. The panellight apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a beam LED module havinga condensing lens for emitting a light beam on the diffusion plate forshowing a light message controlled by the driver module.